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April 2010
Members
Newsletter
Hi Bear Club Members,
At last I get a chance to sit down to create this months newsletter, I was starting to panic that I would not get it written in time for next Tuesdays huge event as we have had one of the busiest Easter Holiday breaks on record.
Not that I am complaining about being busy, just the opposite I love to be busy and really enjoy the holiday periods when a lot of our interstate members get a chance to come for a visit, it’s great to catch up and to also show off all the new bears since their last visit.
The Easter long weekend was incredibly busy with a huge number of visitors passing through or staying in our beautiful Blue Mountains, we almost become an unofficial tourist information centre as visitors love the local information we give them on what great places there are to visit in the area.
Several members suggested it would be nice if I could include a little information about other things members could see in the mountains whilst visiting our teddies, they felt that if people were aware of other things to do they might make a fun weekend of it.
So as this month is a little lighter for teddy bear news I have included an interesting little story about our most famous landmark, The Three Sisters at Echo Point in Katoomba.
This tale is from the mythology of the local Aboriginal People, I hope you find it interesting.
The Legend of the Three Sisters
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Long ago in the Blue Mountains, three sisters lived.
They were Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, and their father was a Witch Doctor named Tyawan.
They were a happy family, as were all the inhabitants of these mountains.
Only one creature was feared by all. He was the Bunyip who lived in a deep hole.
Tyawan knew where the Bunyip lived and sometimes had to pass his hole when going into the valley for food, but he used to leave his three pretty daughters high on the cliff behind a rocky wall where they could not fall off.
 One day, waving goodbye to his daughters, he descended the cliff steps.
On the top of the cliff, a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meehni, so she picked up a stone to throw at him.
The stone rolled away over the cliff edge causing all the Birds, animals and fairies to stop chirping and singing, and the rocks split open behind the three sisters, leaving them standing on a thin ledge.
There was a deep rumble below and everyone began to run away yelling: "Quick, here comes the Bunyip!"
Horrified, the poor sisters huddled together as the angry Bunyip emerged from his sleep.
He looked up to see who had rudely wakened him and there, perched on the thin ledge, he espied the sisters, cowering in fear. Furiously he lurched towards them.
In the valley below, Tyawan had heard the cry, and looked up to see the Bunyip had almost reached his daughters, whom he feared would certainly be devoured.
Frantically, the Witch Doctor pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them into stone.
They would be safe there until the Bunyip was gone, and then Tyawan would return them to their former bodies.
But the Bunyip was even more angry when he saw what had happened and he turned on Tyawan and began to chase him.  Running away, Tyawan found himself against a rock which he could neither climb or go round.
He quickly changed into a Lyrebird and disappeared into a small cave.
Everyone was now safe, but Tyawan had dropped his magic bone.
Still very angry the Bunyip went home.
Tyawan crept out of the cave, but he could not find his bone.
He searched and searched, and is said he is still seeking it today.
Meanwhile, the Three Sisters stand silently watching him from their mountain ledge, hoping he will find the bone and turn them back to their former selves.
We can see the Three Sisters today from Echo Point and in the valley we can hear Tyawan, the lyrebird, calling them as he searches for the lost bone.
The picture above is a tribute to the legend of the Three Sisters Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo and these impressive statues can be seen outside Scenic World in Katoomba which is another of our major attractions with millions of visitors every year coming to take in the magnificent scenery whilst taking a ride on their famous Sky Way Cable car and the Worlds Steepest cable railway.
Nana’s Teddies & Toys is heavily involved in the local tourism and as such we are recognised as a major Tourist Attraction by Blue Mountains Tourism, NSW Tourism and Tourism Australia.
We are also members of the Blue Mountains Attractions Group of which I have served as President for several years.
If you would like to find out more about the Attractions in the region have a look at the groups web site where we have featured 16 short videos on the top attractions. Here is a direct link www.bluemountainsattractions.com.au
 WIN A FAMILY SCENIC PASS
One of our tourism associates Scenic World has generously supplied us with a Family Scenic Day Pass to use as a prize in a special members competition.
The pass is valued at $70 and includes all entry and rides on the Scenic Skyway, Scenic Railway, Scenic cableway and the Scenic Walkway.
The pass is for 2 adults and all their children aged 4 to 13.
To go in the draw to win this family pass simply e-mail me at bears@teddys.com.au with the answer to this question
WHAT CREATURE DID TYAWAN TURN HIMSELF INTO TO ESCAPE FROM
THE FEARSOME BUNYIP?
The winner will be notified after the draw on May 1st 2010
For more information on Scenic World visit www.scenicworld.com.au
A FULL YEAR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
 Our 2010 Calendar of Events is now filling up fast and almost complete for our major events for this year.
Not all events have complete details posted as yet, we are still finalising the finer details but the dates have been confirmed along with the companies that will be sponsoring each event.
There are still more events to come and I will continue to update the calendar as details are finalised so check back periodically so you dont miss any of our exciting Teddies on Parade Events.
QUICK LINKS:
 Teddies on Parade Special Event featuring Russ Bears & Animals
This Months Super Specials
This Months Prizes
Click this direct link to the Russ Bears catalogue section
 LOCAL & GLOBAL TEDDY NEWS
The good, the bad and the cuddly!
NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT RUSS.
This month we are holding a special Teddies on Parade event with Russ Bears, this event will be possibly the best we have held with Russ and members will be treated to lots of very special deals on a large selection of Russ bears.
 We will also have a VIP guest speaker Kaylene Potter, National Sales Manager of Russ Australia who will talk with us about the exciting changes and new direction that Russ are taking with their bears for the Australian market.
Members will also be treated to a virtual DVD tour of one of the Russ factories, this is a rare and exclusive insight into the way bears and animals are made and the strict production quality controls that Russ implement into their production.
Sadly we will not be able to present this tour online as Russ understandably will not allow us to put it on the internet where it could be viewed by their competitors who would be eager to learn how they make many of their high quality products.
For more information on this exciting event click here
FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO OUR NEWEST ARTIST
 Last month we welcomed a new Western Australian Bear Artist ALAINE FERREIRA of Bearflair and the response from members was instant with almost all the bears we had in stock selling out within a few days of the newsletter going out.
This was very exciting for Alaine but disappointing for many members who did not respond quick enough to secure one of Alaine’s delightful creations.
The good news isthat we have had her sitting up late most nights to make more of her quirky and unusual bears for us and if you are quick enough we have now fifteen new designs of her original 1/1 artist bears in stock for immediate adoption.
Pictured is just one of Alaine’s latest creations and you can see more of her unusual and delightful teddies in the artist bear section of our online catalogue.
Lexy 1/1 is a 27 cm Long Necked designs which have a real quirkiness about them and have proven to be very popular wherever they have been seen.
You can adopt Lexy or any of her long necked cousins featured in our on-line catalogue for only $99
This very talented and creative West Australian bear artist, know around the world for her beautiful bears and a recent finalist in the inaugural ABC Awards has now joined the ranks of leading Australian Artists being showcased by Nana's Teddies & Toys.
Her designs feature a range of styles including traditional, funky, weird and wonderful bears.
She loves working with a range of fabrics including mohair and Alpaca fur and she loves mixing and matching colours to create truly magnificent little individuals.
Alaine creates all her teddies from good quality German mohair and uses varying materials for the paw pads, all bears are fully jointed and some even feature wobble joints in the neck, they also come with their very own birth certificate, dated and signed by the artist and include a laminated Bearflair Certificate of Authenticity.
THE FIRST TEDDY BEAR
AND HOW HE GOT HIS NAME
 The modern teddy bear as we know it came into being 108 years ago with these much loved and widely collected teddy bears having a history dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.
There is no denying the appeal of the cuddly toys.
Here are some interesting facts about these original teddy bears.
The teddy bear was named in honour of American President Theodore Roosevelt who whilst on a political trip involving a dispute over the border between Louisiana and Mississippi went on a side hunting outing in 1903, in Mississippi
The hunting trip was not going well as the bears had made themselves scarce so his hosts chained a black bear cub to a tree wanting to ensure that the President would definitely bag a hunting trophy to take home.
Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot the helpless black bear cub.
A political cartoonist Clifford Berryman was a part of the group and he portrayed the event reflecting both the bear and the border dispute in a cartoon article for the Washington Post newspaper.
The caption read "Drawing the line in Mississippi".
A man named Morris Michtom and his wife created a pair of stuffed bears to put in their shop window and after seeing this cartoon and with permission from President Roosevelt, they were given the name "Teddy's" Bears.
They were an instant hit with there customers and demand was quite high making the store to grow.
The shop became the Ideal Novelty and Toy company in 1907 and again changed it’s name to The Ideal Toy Company in 1938.
Before the advent of the upright teddy bears, the Steiff toy company of Germany, had produced stuffed bears on all fours. They were mounted on a base with wheels to be pulled around.
At about the same time as the Michtoms created their first teddy bears, the Steiff company was making their own version in Germany.
In 1902 Richard Steiff, the nephew of the Steiff owner Margarette, went to a The Stuttgart Zoo and drew up plans for a new upright realistic jointed teddy bear, Steiff bears are often considered more realistic, having humps on their backs.
Although teddy bears are made both jointed and not jointed, the very first jointed ones were created by The Steiff Company in 1902.
According to legend, in 1902 Richard Steiff first designed and oversaw development of an edition of 3,000 of this first ever teddy bear.
The bears were not popular when they were first created by Steiff, but a New York wholesaler named Hermann Berg who was attending a toy show in Leipzig and knew the success of The Michtoms bears, was so impressed with the Steiff design that he placed an order for 3000 pieces of these Steiff bears to import to the United States.
What became of the prototype bear or most of the inventory of 3,000 remains a mystery.
Few have ever been found or identified despite fervent searches by thousands of dedicated Steiff collectors over the past century.
Even in the official Steiff archives, the prototype remains the only product missing from an otherwise complete and exhaustive collection.
With no clear photograph ever published, the PB55 has truly become the Holy Grail of the teddy bear world.
Few have ever been seen since 1903 and he remains the ultimate, unattainable achievement for all Steiff collectors
 A Steiff Limited Edition PB55 Replica Bear Edition of 7,000 pieces worldwide was created in 2002 as an exact replica from the original 1902 pattern.
The PB55 reddish brown mohair bear is filled with wood shavings and features the original twine (string) and disc jointing, excelsior stuffing, sealing wax nose and black shoe button eyes.
His black and white "Button-In-Ear" authenticates his exact replica status.
PB55 wears on his chest a cardboard disk displaying the original Steiff logo of an elephant with an "S" shaped trunk.
This logo (and the cardboard disk) was used to identify Steiff's earliest products until about 1900.
These replica editions rarely come up for sale but when they do the achieve prices exceeding $4000, an original 1902 edition would be priceless.
A LITTLE TEDDY BEAR HUMOUR.
A man meets a gorgeous woman in a bar.
They talk, they connect, they end up leaving together.
They get back to her place, and as she shows him around her apartment he notices that her bedroom is completely packed with teddy bears.
Hundreds of small bears on a shelf all the way along the floor, medium sized ones on a shelf a little higher and huge bears on the top shelf along the wall.
The man is kind of surprised that this woman would have a collection of teddy bears, especially one that's so extensive, but he decides not to mention this to her.
After a night of passion, as they are lying together in the after glow the man rolls over and asks, smiling,
"Well, how was it?"
The woman says, "You can have any prize you like from the BOTTOM shelf."
CHARLIE BEARS UPDATE.
 Our Australian distributor has had lengthy phone conversations with Charlie in England getting the latest updates on how the production issues are progressing.
Things are moving a little better now and we should have all our existing back orders in the not too distant future.
I asked the very blunt question as to weather there was any issues with any of the designs we have on back order and I was assured that every bear we have on order for our members will be delivered as soon as absolutely possible.
As I stated last month, I know many of you have been quite frustrated by the long delays we are experiencing in getting our Charlie Bears through, a frustration we at Nana’s share with you, particularly not being able to get even estimated arrival dates or know what bears are in each shipment until they arrive.
Charlie Bears are acutely aware of the problems their production delays are causing their stockists and collectors alike and are doing their best to fulfil the huge amount of orders that flooded in when the new range was released last August.
Charlie Bears did not predict the absolutely phenomenal response world-wide to their new collection and were inundated with orders 4 times greater that their factory could deliver before Christmas.
They are still working double shifts to catch up but as the bears are all hand made you cannot rush them without sacrificing quality which is something Charlie and William will not allow to happen under any circumstances.
He has stated again that all their bears are fully hand made and hand stuffed, they are not mass produced and never will be to ensure that every Charlie Bear retains that “Personality” that they have become famous for.
Plans are under way to set up a third factory near the current ones in Thailand plus two more in Sri Lanka, over 300 new workers will be employed but as you can appreciate it will take time to train them up to the high standards that Charlie and William have set for their bears.
Anyway, I have passed on all the information currently available to me, I will be in touch with all members who are waiting on bears as soon as I get anything further to report or better yet when the next container arrives with more of our orders.
THIS MONTHS
SUPER SPECIALS
SELECTED RUSS TEDDIES
AT BARGAIN PRICES
 These super cuddly bears are now retired and we have organised a
bulk purchase on the remaining stock available to be able to offer you
some huge discounts until the 30th April or whilst stocks last.
As these bears are in our online catalogue at regular prices please do not
use the normal enquiry cart system to order these specials, simply
send me an e-mail to bears@teddys.com.au with the subject line as
SELECTED TEDDIES SALE requesting the ones you would like to adopt
RUSS
Dixon
20cm #9466
Normally $13.95 Sale Price $7
RUSS
Deegan
30cm #10787
Normally $26.95 Sale Price $14
RUSS
Chazz
20cm #9465
Normally $13.95 Sale Price $7
RUSS
Aiden
#11905
30cm Normally $26.95 Sale Price $14
38cm Normally $39.95 Sale Price $20
RUSS
Tyler
20cm #9462
Normally $13.95 Sale Price $7
RUSS
Barron
26cm #11050
Normally $22.95 Sale Price $12
 RUSS
Duncan
#11048
27cm Normally $25.95 Sale Price $13
35cm Normally $35.95 Sale Price $18
RUSS
Desmond
20cm #9466
Normally $13.95 Sale Price $7
THIS MONTHS
SPECIAL EVENT
Proudly sponsored by
RUSS
BEARS
Teddies on Parade Event - 7 pm Tuesday 13th April 2010.
RSVP by 3 pm Tuesday the 13th
Internet & Phone orders can be placed Tuesday 13th - Sunday 18th April
HUGE DISCOUNTS
& SPECIALS 
20%
OFF ALL RUSS BEARS
and their entire range of plush animals and Tatty Teddy designs
As a member you can get 20% off all RUSS designs including Tatty Teddies when you attend this months
TEDDIES on PARADE event or by using the enquiry cart and typing RUSS SALE in the general comments box when you submit your internet enquiry placed Tuesday 13th - Sunday 18th April.
Click this direct link to the Russ Bears catalogue section
Click this direct link to the Tatty Teddies catalogue section
Click this direct link to the main catalogue
to browse all our animal categories where you will find hundreds of
Russ designs in every section that you can adopt at the 20% off members sale
Plus a Free Gift with purchase
and great Prizes to be Won!
We have reserved a special FREE Gift for all members either purchasing at this
months TEDDIES on PARADE event or ordering online or by phone any
RUSS BEARS, TATTY TEDDIES OR RUSS ANIMALS
between Tuesday the 13th April and Sunday the 18th April.
Free Gift with purchase
You will receive FREE
a Tatty Teddy mobile phone charm
valued at $11.95
INTERNET OR PHONE ORDER MEMBERS
If you live too far away to attend the TEDDIES on PARADE night you can see all
our Russ Bears, Tatty Teddies & Animals on our on-line catalogue www.teddys.com.au
and still get the 20% discount off all prices shown if you order by using the
enquiry cart and typing RUSS SALE in the general comments box when
you submit your internet enquiry between Tuesday 13th - Sunday 18th April.
All Members either attending our
TEDDIES on PARADE event
or ordering online or by phone
will get an entry in the draws
to win these great prizes.
THIS MONTHS PRIZES
1 of each will be drawn at the TEDDIES on PARADE event
1 of each will be reserved for an internet or phone orders draw
1st prizes
A beautiful cuddly 25 cm
Tatty Teddy Bear
cuddling 5 Little Blue Nosed Friends
valued at $79.95
2nd prizes
A Cuddly
35 cm RUSS Bear
Hathaway
valued at $39.95
3rd prizes
A cuddly
30 cm RUSS Bear
Barrymore
valued at $26.95
 WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
 March’s
Teddies on Parade Event
lucky prize winners
Congratulations to last months winners
1st Prizes - Two Ganz bears - Turner and Piper - valued at $79.90
Tracey Kendell of Toongabbie NSW won the “Teddies on Parade” door prize.
Andrew Hayman of Parkes NSW won the internet/phone order prize.
2nd Prizes - A 46cm Ganz Bentley Bear - valued at $43.95
Warren Waudby of Castle Hill NSW won the “Teddies on Parade” door prize.
Susan Benham of Aberfoyle Park S.A won the internet/phone order prize.
3rd Prizes - A 26cm Ganz Wilson Bear - valued at $34.95
Charla Chilvers of Blaxland NSW won the “Teddies on Parade” door prize.
Brenda Payne of Hurstville NSW won the internet/phone order prize.
$100 Members Super Draw
Elizabeth Guthrie of Endeavour Hills VIC who correctly answered that Charlie 2010 is made of PLUMO - part plush & part mohair.
 Will you be this month’s $100 Gift Certificate Winner?
You have to be in it to win it!!!!
Enter this months draw for a $100 gift voucher now by answering this simple question,
In what year did Richard Steiff create the first modern teddy bear known as PB55?
You can find the answer in this newsletter.
E-mail your answer now and don’t forget your membership number.
Event information for new members:
- Teddies nights start at 7pm sharp and generally run till around 9pm but this depends on how much fun our members are having.
- It is essential to RSVP so that we can organise catering and gifts.
- Our TEDDIES on PARADE nights are young children free events so that you and other members can relax and enjoy the bears and the company.
- Well behaved teenagers are most welcome to attend.
So why not mark your diary, RSVP now and come along and have a relaxing fun night out with a great bunch of people that share your passion for collecting Teddies.
That’s it for this months general news highlights but before I sign off for this issue I wish to remind you of the following dates:
TEDDIES on PARADE
7pm 13th April.
RUSS Bears - Tatty Teddies
&
RUSS Animals Sale
13th - 18th April
Regards and beary best wishes
Dave.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEWER MEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED
US RECENTLY I WILL CONTINUE TO REPEAT EACH MONTH THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON MEMBERS DISCOUNTS AND BENEFITS
MEMBERS DISCOUNTS.
 For the benefit of members old and new I would like to clarify the importance of making it known to us when you are ordering that you are in fact a member, if you cant find your number we can look it up on our computer system for you.
As we have now over 25000 customers on our lists it is hard for us to keep track of every ones status so we ask your help in providing your membership number with all inquires and orders, this way we can ensure you get the discounts or specials you are entitled to as a member of our club.
MEMBERSHIP NUMBER IS DISPLAYED AT THE TOP OF EVERY NEWSLETTER, just above your name.
- Your membership entitles you to a minimum of 5% off all regularly priced products that are not already reduced.
- All prices in our on-line catalogue are our normal retail prices and members discounts will be deducted from these retail prices.
- Discounts are not available for lay-bys as we incur additional costs in providing lay-by services.
- Members discount also applies to Pre-orders placed with payment in full at the time of placing your orders.
- Discounts do not apply to postage costs.
- Special offers are made to members from time to time at up to 80% off retail, further discounts do not apply to these offers.
- We always strive to offer our members the best possible value on all our teddy bears and other products, as such we are always happy to match or better any genuine advertised competitors prices. As it is impossible for us to monitor all available offers please bring it to our attention and we will see what we can do.
 CHANGED E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Many members are changing their e-mail providers or going to broadband which changes their e-mail addresses.
It is imperative that you advise us of any change in your E-mail address if you wish to continue to receive your newsletters.
We would hate to lose contact with you.
I hope you enjoy this months news and all the additions to our on-line catalogue ranges, please check back frequently for new additions that will be uploaded as they arrive.
Regards and bear hugs from all of us,
Dave, Jan, Troy, Marilyn & the Bears.
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